Soil Properties

We Dig Dirt!

This week we had a great time playing with dirt! Scientifically we like to call it soil, not dirt, and the young scientists used their inquisitive minds to examine what exactly is in soil. But first, they learned about the ecological, biological and topological factors that contribute to soil formation over hundreds and thousands of years. For example, many of us know that rocks will eventually erode into tiny pieces that become soil. But others of us might not appreciate the role that microorganisms play in soil formation (they help break down organic material such as leaves and other dead bugs) or that soil contains large amounts of air and water.

We need to protect our soil because its important to every living organism on earth. A healthy soil allows plants to grow, and plants are essential to life along our entire food chain. Soil also helps filter out impurities (acid rain, industrial wastes) before they can reach our water supplies. 

Experimentally this week students examined 4 different soils (clay, sand, topsoil and Miracle Gro potting soil). They noticed differences in the soil colors and were able to correlate that color to what is in the soil itself. Dark brown/black soils tend to contain lots of broken down organic material, sandy soils tend to contain many mineral fragments and even parts of shells. Students also observed the texture of the soils noting that some soils contain smaller particles than others. Finally, students observed how well soils can hold, or not hold, water. All of these factors (color, texture, water handling ability) are important in determining how healthy a soil might be for growing crops or how productive soil might be in filtering out impurities from water.

Feel free to look more closely at the soil in your own yard now and see what you can find!

Author

Leighann

Leighann Sullivan earned her BS in Biology from Cornell University. For a number of years she taught math, science, and language skills at a secondary school for learning disabled students. She subsequently earned her PhD in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Rice University. Her dissertation was entitled, “Molecular and Genomic Analyses in Clostridium acetobutylicum.” When not pursuing academic interests she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, and experimenting in the culinary arts.

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